Launch preparations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASED, Calif. -- United Luanch Alliance workers lift a solid rocket motor for emplacement on a Delta II rocket. The Delta II rocket will launch NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite, which will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. (Courtesy photo/Mark P. Mackley)

Launch preparations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- United Luanch Alliance workers place a solid rocket motor on a Delta II rocket. The Delta II rocket will launch NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite, which will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. (Courtesy photo/Mark P. Mackley)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 1:24 p.m. May 5. The rocket carried an experimental satellite for the Missile Defense Agency's Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kerelin Molina)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 1:24 p.m. May 5. The rocket carried an experimental satellite for Missile Defense Agency's Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Heather R. Shaw)

Steady as she goes

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II Rocket fairing is raised into position March 11 at the bottom of the Main Support Tower, or MST, of a Delta II Rocket at Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket will carry the Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction, or STSS-ATRR, research and development satellite for the Missile Defense Agency. NASA will oversee the launch. The Delta II is scheduled for launch May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark Mackley)

Steady as she goes

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II Rocket fairing is raised into position March 11 at the bottom of the Main Support Tower, or MST, of a Delta II Rocket at Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket will carry the Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction, or STSS-ATRR, research and development satellite for the Missile Defense Agency. NASA will oversee the launch. The Delta II is scheduled for launch May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark Mackley)

Taurus awaits launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On Space Launch Complex 576-E here, NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory is scheduled to launch aboard the Taurus LX rocket Feb. 24. The spacecraft will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. (U.S. Air Force photos/Senior Airman Cole M. Presley)

Taurus XL launch scheduled

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- With the fairing door off, Orbital Science's Jose Castillo and Mark Neuse remove the fairing payload access door on NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory spacecraft on Launch Complex 576-E here. Orbital Science's Glenn Weigle and Brett Gladish stand by to take the GN2 flow reading The encapsulated OCO tops Orbital Sciences' Taurus XL rocket, which is scheduled to launch Feb. 24. The spacecraft will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Justin Jessop)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)